Adam Wedd has a rare type of honesty in his EP, Merchant Man, the sort that does not aim to be overly dramatic or pretentious, yet still, manages to hit the bulls-eye. Listening to this project is like turning the pages of a journal of a person and each song is a different chapter, a different emotional line.
The Merchant Man by Adam Wedd is supplemented by the efforts of the skilled collaborators. The EP was mixed by Paul Tipler, who added a polished sound, and mastered at Abbey Road by Alex Wharton, who made sure that every detail sparkles. Dynamic drumming was contributed by Alex Marchisone and Sam Beer contributed significantly in engineering and gave the tracks good foundation. Moreover, Wedd has worked with Leo Abrahamsen in the song Pedal to the Metal, which was written in the same kind of energy as they wrote together, and Alex Mullarkey in the song Madman, which is a result of the creative synergy that is the hallmark of this project.
Whether it be the breathy tenderness of his vocals or the raw lived-in stories that form each song, Wedd has a sincerity that can be difficult to fake. There is that raw quality in his voice, husky, expressive and only somewhat less than perfect, and it is that emotional quality that keeps you rooted, despite the melodies suddenly going in another direction altogether.
Musically, Merchant Man does not hurry, it is just that it has a purpose. Songs such as the “Shipwrecks” pull you into a more softer, more reflective space and then the “PEDAL to the METAL – apex version” hits with all the energy and defiance of a live show moment that you never want to stop. The instrumentation is biased towards an alt-rock sound of chugging guitars, light piano, and introspective percussion, though it is not out of the ordinary to hear a violin making its way through the music. All the songs are unique, though they belong to one emotional world.
There are themes of love and loss and redemption and resilience that run through it not as a cliche, but as a truthful reflection. You feel that Wedd is not making an effort to impress, he is just trying to state the truth. And that is what makes this EP echo most of all. The best part is the coziness behind it all the friendships, the late night writing sessions, the voice notes that became full songs. Merchant Man does not scream. It simply talks, straightforward and heartfelt. And it will stick with you long after the last song is finished if you allow it.
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